Erie juror fined $500 for outburst

ERIE, Pa. -- Rebellious witnesses and victims have given prosecutors trouble in this tough July trial term in Erie County Court.

The latest uprising, though, broke out Tuesday in the jury pool.

An Erie woman, dismayed that she had been picked to serve as a juror in a weapons case, audibly harrumphed the worst curse word of them all, then huffed and puffed her way to her seat in the jury box.

Erie County President Judge Ernest J. DiSantis was having none of it. When apprised of the outburst by the lawyers on the case, DiSantis came to the courtroom and called the woman, Kathleen Port, in front of the bench.

Port was off the jury, for starters, he said.

"But we are not done," he said.

DiSantis held Port in contempt of court and fined her $500 for the improper behavior.

If she does not pay up within 90 days, DiSantis said he would consider jailing her. That is likely not an idle threat. In 2010, DiSantis jailed a juror for 24 hours after the man declared the defendant guilty before the trial had even begun.

DiSantis said Port would remain in the pool of those eligible for jury summons. He suggested if she is called to serve in the future, she does not "pull that kind of stunt," again.

"It denigrates the jury system," he said.

Port, who afterward declined to comment on the event, repeatedly apologized in court.

She told DiSantis she was "pissed" because she did not want to lose income at work.